03.04.2013 Views

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.' 201<br />

Diana and Minerva, which she contains, is said to remain a<br />

virgin ; but according to the prolific power <strong>of</strong> Proserpine,<br />

she is said to proceed forth, and to be conjoined with the<br />

third demiurgus, and to bring forth, as <strong>Orpheus</strong> says, "nine<br />

azure-eyed, flower-producing daughters ; "<br />

since the Diana and the Minerva which she contains pre-<br />

serve their virginity always the same. For the former <strong>of</strong><br />

these is characterized according to her stability, but the<br />

latter according to her convertive energy. But that which<br />

is generative is allotted in her a middle order. <strong>The</strong>y say<br />

too, that she aspires after virginity, since the form <strong>of</strong> her is<br />

comprehended in the vivific fountain, and she understands<br />

fontal virtue, gives subsistence to supermundane and ana-<br />

gogic virtue, and despises all material sexual connexion,<br />

though she inspects the fruits arising from it.<br />

She appears also to be averse to the generations and<br />

progressions <strong>of</strong> things, but to introduce perfections to them.<br />

And she gives perfection indeed to souls through a life<br />

according to virtue ; but to mortal animals she i~nparts a<br />

restitution to form. But that there is a great union between<br />

Diana, the mundane Hecate, and Core, is evident to those<br />

that are in the least degree conversant with the writings <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Orpheus</strong>; from which it appears that Latona is compre-<br />

hended in Ceres, and together with Jupiter gives subsist-<br />

ence to Core, and the mundane Hecate. To which we may<br />

also add, that <strong>Orpheus</strong> 41 calls Diana Hecate, So that it is<br />

nothing wonderful, if we should elsewhere call the Diana<br />

contained in Core Hecate,<br />

<strong>The</strong> wise man venerates the last and mundane pro-<br />

gressions <strong>of</strong> the Gods, though, as Plato says, they are<br />

sports through these Gods [i. e. Venus and Bacchus] being<br />

lovers <strong>of</strong> sport. For as he says <strong>of</strong> the terminations <strong>of</strong> the<br />

other Gods, that they are terrible, and that they avenge and<br />

H 6' apa EKan) Gai6os peAq avo& ~vdoucra<br />

Aqrous EVGAOKCLFOLO ~opq c;ipoue/3r]o ar' oAvpu.ov.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!